Ask Event Vengeance of the Sith: Whispers of Prakith

[The Storyteller]

.

It was reported that Darth Tempest was furious.

Despite proving unsuccessful, the assault on Mustafar had been entirely too close for comfort - striking at the Sith Order where they were supposed to be their strongest. It highlighted the glaring flaws within their own sense of security, and it hinted at the presence of a turncoat within their very midsts. While the identity of the perpetrators remained a mystery, the Dark Lord had almost immediately begun the work to strike back.

Experts within the Inquisitorius had been able to decipher the origins of the Starfighters that hailed fire onto Fortress Vader - using recent jump locations and coordinates from the Nav-Computers to pinpoint an origin. Two distinct locations appeared more than any other within the logs, and it was there that the Dark Lord would send the disciples of her Order. Channels were established and the call was issued, beckoning any available Sith beneath her banner to arrive at one location or the other.

An ancient world of the Sith, Prakith would be the destination for at least some of the followers of Tempest. The charred landscape stretched out in every direction from the landing zone, a dull gray that was illuminated only by the free lava-flows visible on the horizon. Ash and igneous rock formations blanketed any semblance of verdant life, hinting at the desecration that their forebears had brought unto the Deep Core world. For those attuned to the Force, the Darkness that hung over the planet was impossible to ignore. It was a sense of dread that would rise up within each of them, silently gnawing at the back of their minds as a constant reminder of its presence. Something dwelt on Prakith that dwarfed each and every one of them in power, and did little to hint at the identity of those they were looking for.

Perhaps their only sense of direction was the wide, cave entrance that appeared only a few meters from their landing zone - opening into the volcanic earth and yawning ominously to the Sith that had arrived.

Rather than the Dark Lord herself, the expedition was overseen by a Sith Pureblood - adorned in the traditional attire and tattoos of his culture. Master Ikharas was known amongst their Order for his successes as an alchemist and practitioner of the Dark Side, and had been selected specifically for the arcane nature of their mission on Prakith. He stood with both hands knitted against the small of his back - blackened eyes cast across the volcanic plains ahead. The Darkness pulsed strongly from the cave, fickering with the presence of intelligence life that wormed beneath the surface. The Master would wait for the bulk of their forces to arrive before he addressed any of them, opting to maintain his silence for the time being.

Spoiler: OOC notes and event guidelines!

This event represents one half of the "Vengeance of the Sith" event. It runs concurrently with this thread. If you have joined this thread with any character, you may not join the other.

There will be a follow-up to these threads at their conclusion.

48hr deadline applies.

Death disabled.

Have fun :)

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

an arcane planet steeped in mystery? exactly what cremeks discipline was invented for, as soon as he could, he volunteered to assist and lend his saber to the cause, he approached the sith master, giving a bow, he was a man of few words during a time like this, and he would prefer to let his actions do the talking.

"This is interesting, no?.."

he finally spoke, his voice modulator hiding any sort of tone he might have.

 

[Anai Skhess]

The Kaleesh took a step forward as she took a look at the scenery in front of her. Prakith was a planet with a lot of history related to the sith and the dark side, so it was not a surprise that the investigation of the Inquisitorius led them there. She, however, had not come to the planet acting as an inquisitorial member, at least not at first glance. While other inquisitors took the role of leadership in Anoth, she had decided to join this mission as herself, as just another sith in the galaxy.

She could've joined as an inquisitor, of course, but that may have put her in a position of leadership...Have inquisitors leading both missions and chances are other sith would start to feel threatened by their reach and presence in every single confrontation. Besides, there are advantages to not wearing the inquisitor armor...It made it much easier for her to gather intel on Master Ikkharas, see how he acted in the field. Sorcerous types were often the most treacherous sith, it was important for the inquisitor to keep tabs on them and see how competetent they were at leading.

Clad in her sith armor, Anai simply stood alert, awaiting orders from the alchemist, wondering if they would be the ones to be lucky and find the culprits of the attack, the Kaleesh really hoped so, it was something that could not stand and, most importantly, it was something that put Vahl in a really foul mood, no one wanted the sith lord to be angry, not even fellow sith. Even if Anai was her friend, failure would not be tolerated, such was the way of the sith.

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael had his fill of infiltrations and various other stealth based missions. When he heard of an expedition to Prakith he couldn't help but sign up. After all his knowledge of the darkside was rudimentary to say the least. Being part of the group to explore the findings on a planet with such significance to the sith was exactly what he needed.

The leader a renowned alchemist and sorcerer among the sith also played homage to his desires to learn more of the mysteries of the force. Approaching the group waiting he bows to the master than waits to see who else would arrive.

 

[Zorya]

Through the surly vehemence of the Prakith landscape, the darkened silhouette of Zorya stood unwavering, a monolith of enigmatic determination. The serrated skyline of the ancient Sith world thrummed with an unspoken history, a murmuring of the dark side that was almost palpable. A stark contrast to her surroundings, her silence was a gale-force in this veritable tempest of fury, the quietude itself serving as a distinct presence that whispered of veiled profundities.

Close to her, a vortex of mischievous energy buzzed and fluttered. O'bog alighted from his perch on her shoulder to flit about her head in a whirling dervish. His laughter echoed into the grim surroundings, a discordant melody of mirthful defiance against the dark serenity.

"Oy! Creepin' doom, this is!" O'bog squawked, looking at the expansive volcanic wasteland with a rebellious smirk, "Feels like the inside of a Hutt's lunchbox, it does!"

Zorya only gave the slightest nod, her coal-dark eyes reflecting the ominous shadows that played about them. Yet beneath her forbidding exterior, her mind roiled with contemplation. She was in tune with the undercurrents of the Dark Side. This place, so ripe with ancient resonance, was a cryptic codex written in the ashes of eons past.

Upon spotting Cremek, O'bog cackled, his voice echoing against the bare, volcanic expanse. "Oi, if it ain't me old mate Cremek!" He twirled around Zorya's head before hovering in front of the silent Sith. "Yer brought yer fancy saber to another fancy field trip, ain't ya?" His gaze then swung over to Trael, an amused twinkle in his eyes. "An' look 'ere, Trael Osso, bold as ever. More'n I can say for ye, Cremek!" His laughter rang out in the desolate landscape.

Zorya's lips curved into the barest of smirks, as O'bog continued his incessant chattering. Her gaze followed his, looking over the growing assembly of Sith disciples. There was an undeniable electricity in the air, a tantalizing prelude to the discoveries that awaited them beneath the weathered crust of Prakith. Yet for all her quietude, her senses were heightened, soaking in every nuance of their surroundings – the acrid scent of the scorched earth, the muted sigh of the wind against the cavernous entrance, the indistinct murmur of the forces beneath their feet, the taste of sulfur in the air, and the dissonance of O'bog's cackling in the otherwise oppressive silence.

From a distance, O'bog called out, "Ready yer sabers, lads! It's 'bout time we dive into this Hellhole, eh?" The words hung in the air, an unspoken command from Zorya herself, with all the weight of her silent authority behind them.

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

"im sorrry do I know you? I don't recall meeting an overglorifed womp rat." he shot back, chuckling under his helmet. "good to see your alive still, both of you, I would ask for you to fill me in on the shenanigans your hut'uun hide has been up to but that will have to wait."

"Aye, I agree we should get to work as soon as the head lad is ready."

 

[The Storyteller]

As the very last of their expeditionary force arrived, Master Ikharos finally turned to face the group - keeping both hands knitted against the small of his back, while blackened eyes swept from one Sith to another. The Shadow gathered and coalesced with their arrival, amplified by the Nexus that pulsed from the very heart of Prakith. The Pureblood made no indication he was impressed or pleased with those that had answered the call of the Dark Lord, though the arrival of Zorya certainly captured his attention - if only due to her recent endeavors on Umbara. The Master could only wonder how many of them would survive the journey ahead of them.

“Intelligence from the Inquisitorius had followed the trail to Prakith,” He began, his voice tinged by the heavy accent of a Korriban native. “And the very last of our probe droids has gone missing after delving into these caverns. Their location - and whatever else dwells within - are yet unknown.” The Pureblood raked his fingers through the air before him - as if grasping at invisible wisps of power with his clawed fingers. “But the Force reveals much,” He mused aloud. “Our path leads ahead. And we will not be alone ahead.” He could feel the same presence they all did - slithering and writhing beneath the earth. Waiting for them.

“Come.” He said simply, turning on a heel to advance on the yawning entrance of the cavern. Strangely, the Sith would find that the crimson glow of Prak didn’t seem to reach beyond the subterranean gateway - as if the light itself was being barred from entry. Darkness rushed forth to swallow them, and was only partially pierced by the flames of Pyrokinesis that danced between Ikharos’ fingertips.

The cavern reached deeper and deeper into the earth - forcing the Sith to hike downward as they went - ducking beneath the grayish stalactites that reached down at nearly eye level. Steadily, a more uniform path would begin to appear beneath their feet, until finally reaching a staircase carved into the floor of the cave itself. The sound of footsteps - a dozen more than what the group was capable of producing - would echo within their ears, mimicking their movements to halt with every pause. They were clearly audible, and yet without a clear source they could pinpoint. Was it merely a trick of the mind? Or were they walking towards an enemy that outnumbered them severely?

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the group of Sith was presented with decisions on which way to go. The walls of the cavern were gradually smoothed and etched by the hands of ancient architect’s, leading towards three, triangular doorways plunged deeper into the earth. Crimson, yellow and grey symbols marked the top of each doorway, and the sounds of movement were palpable from each.

For Zorya, however, an alternate direction revealed itself.

To the far left of the chamber, the Sith Master would find a fourth door leading ahead - capped by a sapphire marker at its apex. While visually identical to the others, Zorya would find her gaze uncharacteristically drawn towards the mysterious passageway, and perhaps to the source of light that seemed just around the next corner. So close.. And yet so far away. Her peripheral vision would begin to blur the longer she stared, as if the door itself was beckoning her beyond its threshold. Whether Zorya opted to follow, however, was a decision only she could make.

The fact that only Zorya could see the door, however, remained a fact unknown to the Master.

@Aberforth @theaveragejedishadow @Javier esschoolbus @Versok

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

Internally, cremek was nerding out about the ruins, but externally, he was as silent as the grave, which was typical of the ever astute champion, his eyes darted about for anything, and everything, searching all he can both through the force and with his own vision, hoping to be guided to something interesting, the force after all, had a plan for everything.

When he heard the foot steps, he was the first to draw his weapon, and ready himself for potential danger, he made a note of both his saber gauntlet, and his normal saber, both could come in handy. The sith sorcerer kneeled down to focus on the sound, maybe he could reach out?.. potentially?.. he didn't know, but it was worth a try.

 

[Anai Skhess]

The Kaleesh sith simply greeted the other sith as they arrived, they seemed competent enough for the most part...But then the one with the small creature arrived. That one gave Anai a bit more pause as the woman stood in silence, but O'bog started to address the other two sith in quite a chipper way...The Kaleesh' poker face was quite good, the only thing Zorya would be able to get from it is that she was making sense of her and O'bog.

She could feel all kinds of things about it and Zorya wouldn't know: Annoyance, disdain, indifference, any of the usual reactions a sith usually had when it came to talkative types...But truth be told, she just found the strange little critter quite cute. The Kaleesh wondered if she could get away with petting it at some point...Probably not, she had to focus on the task at hand, after all.

"Let's go" She simply said before she turned towards the sorcerer, following him to the caverns. There, she stood still for a moment, looking around and listening carefully. Although her big pointy ears were more sensitive than most, she still couldn't quite gather where the steps were coming from, so it was clear they had to choose their path another way.

Since the sith master decided to focus on the force side of things, Anai decided to put her hunter's skills to use. Taking a good look at the ground, the walls, and everything else. She would try to find discernible footprints, recent ones if possible, or any other small thing she could track and that would make it easier for them to choose a way. The Kaleesh came from a hunter tribe, and tracking was something she had learned since she was little, if there was anything of use, she would probably find it

 

[Trael Osso]

Walking with the group making sure to be the caboose. Constantly looking along the walls and path to ensure that there wasn't a way to be flanked. Upon reaching the doors Trael waited keeping his hands near his sabers incase any enemies appear. He wasn't the leader and wouldn't risk seeming to challenge the master in charge.

 

[Zorya]

Zorya followed behind the Pureblood sorcerer, her obsidian eyes absorbing every detail of their stygian surroundings. She registered the volcanic reek, the threatening silence, the omniscient shadow lurking at the periphery of perception - all the atmospheric elegies of Prakith. The phantasmal echo of numerous footfalls amplified her wariness; the unseen threat lay just beyond the grasp of palpable darkness. Her countenance, a cryptic façade, divulged nothing of the rising sense of alertness within her.

Close by her side, the diminutive O'bog, fluttered, his jargon reduced to a curious silence as the group ventured deeper. His luminescent eyes, ever watchful, spotted the predatory gaze of the Kaleesh Sith skirting him. A mischievous grin crossed his tiny face, ever so briefly. He was no stranger to the threatening, calculating eyes of his kind’s adversaries, but it had always been his wit and agility that held the upper hand.

As they arrived at the cavernous chamber, with the etched doorways, a potent sense of intrigue pervaded Zorya’s consciousness. The cryptic crimson, yellow, and gray sigils on each door beckoned them into the heart of the dark unknown. Yet, her attention was arrested by an enigmatic door to the far left, one that others seemed oblivious to. The enticing sapphire marker at its apex tugged at her like an invisible tether, the apparent luminescence emanating from its peripheries seeming to resonate within her very soul.

O'bog, perched on her shoulder, tried to follow his mistress's gaze but found only a stone wall, causing him to flutter about in bewildered bewilderment. Zorya’s intuition, however, couldn't be swayed. The silent siren call of the door persisted, subtly overpowering the ubiquitous dread pervading Prakith’s subterranean labyrinth.

Through O'bog, she finally broke her silence, his coarse voice breaking the tense quiet of the cavern. "Oi, mates, what say we part ways, eh? Less chance of 'em beasties tearin' at all our flabby bits at once." O’bog's jesting tone did little to mask the weight behind Zorya's suggestion. Her gaze flitted over each of the champions, a silent decree shimmering in her eyes.

With no room for debate or reluctance, Zorya moved gracefully towards the mysterious sapphire doorway. O'bog, with an exhilarated chortle, flew ahead, an apparition of defiance and audacity against the darkness. As Zorya’s fingers brushed the cold stone door, she found herself on the precipice of the arcane unknown, her sense of trepidation stoked by curiosity. Yet, as always, her silence remained her most loyal companion, shrouding her true sentiments beneath an impenetrable veil.

 

[J’aver Shi’eth]

J’aver was not sure why they had been assigned to aid the delving of arcane secrets from Prakith. They were a cudgel, a blunt instrument that cared only for sating its own needs. But J’aver didn’t question their orders, that was not their role. They would aid in whatever manner Master Ikharos demanded of them. The Sith Champion would follow the Sith Master towards the fourth door.

They would expand their senses tasting the Force for potential threats and the tantalizing promise of bloodshed. With their senses expanded, the Sith would hone their physical perceptions to their direct surroundings. They remained steadfast, silent, and alert but at the Sith Master’s side, prepared to aid them in whatever task that was set before them.

 

[The Storyteller]

There was a prolonged moment of pause as the group idled before the trip of doors - with only the faint, persistent sound of movement echoing all around them. Any of the Sith present could have taken the initiative to pick a direction to travel, and promptly made no attempt to do so. Lacking patience, Master Ikharos simply peered at the path directly ahead of them - his eyes momentarily closing and consciousness expanding in the Force.

Perhaps the Master possessed the ability to see something through the Force that the others couldn’t. More likely from his perspective, they lacked the combined mental capacity to sense and see what was painfully obvious to the Pureblood.

Despite her best efforts, Anai would be unable to locate a single footprint within the cavern beyond their own. Quite the contrary, a thin layer of dust and cobwebs seemed to cover everything that was visible - alluding to the forgotten and ancient state of the caverns. It was clear that no one had stepped through the tunnels in an eon, and it did little to explain what had drawn them to the location. However, what the Inquisitor might notice were the myriad of runes that covered the cavern - lining the doorframe and etched into its walls. Their script was ancient and foreign, but the longer she stared.. The words almost seemed to piece themselves together. If only vaguely.

Regardless, the Sith Master soon made a motion with his clawed hand - beckoning his followers to, well, follow closely behind and through the crimson-capped door. As they crossed the threshold, the Sith were funneled through a narrow hallway - carved stone closing in to force each of them into barely more than a single file. The same runes lined every surface as they progressed, luminescent in shades of dark red. The path seemed to stretch on for an eternity - the walls closing in all around them, until a narrow door was reached at its end. It’s stone surface slid open as they approached, revealing the source of the noises they’d heard.

Unlike the space before them, the newest chamber was well-lit - illuminated by braziers of blue fire that burned at every corner of the room. It wouldn’t take more than a moment to notice the bodies that littered the floor, and the few humanoids that were clustered nearby - their backs forced against the wall. Curiously, one of them wielded a blade of crimson plasma.

More pressing was the creature that stalked them closely - keeping the survivors backed against the wall. Twisted and malformed, the hound-like abomination hissed and snapped its jaws. The Dark Side pulsed powerfully from the creature, leaving little mystery behind its origins. The Sith would very quickly need to decide how to proceed - and whether the group ahead of them was worth the risk of fighting the abomination.

Spoiler: Zorya POV

It wasn’t entirely clear whether Zorya was wise or foolish to answer the siren's call of the cavern.. But the peculiarity of her chosen path was without dispute. As she crossed the threshold of the sapphire-capped door, the Yacombe would immediately find the walls around her widen to an impossible degree - spacious, all-encompassing void seeming to replace what had thus far been nothing but narrow corridors through the cave. It didn’t matter how Zorya attempted to illuminate the area around her - all the light seemed to die only a few meters from where she was standing, swallowed by inky darkness.

The collective presence of her allies was little more than a whisper in the distance - so distant, despite having only deviated on the path. A glance behind her shoulder would reveal the door had traveled several meters behind her, seemingly the moment she crossed its threshold. O’bog would see nothing through the darkness, but the same couldn’t be said for his constant companion.

Despite the darkness that consumed the space around her, the beacon of light lingered in the distant. Zorya would clearly see how it curved around the obsidian stones just around the nearest corner, beckoning her to follow it. The source of illumination pulsed and dimmed at a constant rate, accompanied by a steady thumping that echoed within Zorya’s ears. A heartbeat that wasn’t quite her own.

“We can be so much more than they are. Wandering blindly through the dark.” The silence was broken by a voice echoing from behind - one that Zorya would immediately recognize as her own. “We already are.” If the Sith Master turned to face the noise, she would only find her own, corporeal reflection staring back at her. The figure mimicked her every move and expression, but spoke entirely on its own.

“What do you seek here, Zorya of the Yacombe?”

@Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Versok @Aberforth @theaveragejedishadow

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

cremek would not fail to take initiative again, he made his suggestion clear, a sith never willingly backed down and he certainly would not be the first. he cocked his head, making his intentions clear, it would be foolish to do this alone, so he would like to have the advantage of his fellow sith by his side, but they would not hold him back should he make a decision.

gripping his saber, he prepared himself, he was a man of action after all, he feared no beast, no foe, if it meant victory, and as the sith code dictated, his chains being broken, he would seek out ever greater foes.

cremek was emanating the resolve he was famous for.

 

[J’aver Shi’eth]

J’aver followed Sith Master Ikharos deeper yet. As the group passed the first corpse, J’aver drew their senses in. Until that point they had been casting a large net, attempting to discern any threats that could exist near the fringes of their senses. With a potential threat to not only themself but Ikharos having presented itself, that “network” that made up their seventh sense, shrank indefinitely.

Now their senses extended only a few meter radius beyond what their eyesight could discern. It wasn’t much, but it provided an early warning to less obvious threats. It would prove unnecessary.

As the group continued into the darkness, J’aver would notice the trapped Sith. Cornered by some lone abomination, it was clear these Sith would die against their foe, J’aver grunted in disgust. Weakness had flourished in their ranks since before the Imperial divorce, perhaps this was the Dark Side pruning the unworthy from the Order. The decision to leave these weaklings to their fates was soon robbed from them though.

Another grunt of disgust.

A fellow champion had “prepared” themself by gripping their lightsaber in hand, moving forward slightly, and striking some sort of pose. Behind their helmet, J’aver rolled their eyes and didn’t attempt to hide the contempt they felt towards the man. Instead of simply standing by and attempting to be inspiring, J’aver acted. Drawing their DT-12 blaster pistol from the holster at their side, J’aver fired off three rounds in quick succession at the beast as they began to close the gap.

As they took their first few steps, their free hand would call their lightsaber to it’s grasp and prepare a horizontal slash on the beast. The Dark Side rewarded aggression, it rewarded action, those who hesitated were weak, and the weak deserved death. J’aver would exemplify this mindset to their “colleague”.

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

It seems the new blooded champion had forgotten his place, he looked to the sith master, awaiting THEIR permission to continue, as they were the leader amongst them, in the end, it was their will that prevailed as they were the strongest currently among them, that is how the sith worked, he of course could tell the contempt the other man had for him already, a fool, he was, cremek had been a rising shadow within the order since his appointment as champion, either befriending, cutting off, or cutting down anyone who got in his way as necessary, bringing in relics and heads in equal measure to the dark lords feet.

The dark side did not reward simply uncontained aggression, it rewarded cleverness with one's aggression, tempering it with skill.. skill.. that was what cremek had, control, patience, cunning, the rare skill of biding one's time to strike a foe down until one was certain victory was at hand, if it didn't, cremek wouldn't have made it as far as he has, if he could impress tempest herself with his force of will, and sheer determination and conviction, he would not be cowed, nor give a damn about how a new blooded champion thought about him, if he wanted a fight, he would give him one, and show him exactly why the acolytes refer to him as "the ripper"!

Only one person could anger cremek with their judgement, he couldn't explain it, something was with the woman that brought out the more... sadistic.. part of him, which he rarely felt was a necessity, but he had this.. fixation on jedi knight saybella, her judging eyes still racked his brain from time to time from their battles before, maybe it was her prattle on about higher causes, maybe because it was the battle she constantly fought with herself that reminded him about cremek himself in some twisted sort of sense..


when they were done here, he would have to seek her out and put their rivalry to rest.. once and for all..

he refocused on the task at hand, the newblood had just rushed off to fight a foe that most likely single handedly slaughtered several sith beforehand, he looked down, damn.. he recognized one of them, prax vexivus, a training pal of him, one of the few duelists that always gave him a run for his money in single saber combat, was the reason his invented his own saber form, mixing form II and form 7, if he was dead here to this beast.. or something worse.. then chances were his fellow would need assistance, but he wasn't too keen on helping the fool, after all, those who are stupidly aggressive.. or aggressively stupid, would not make it long in the order anyways.

Then his eyes wandered onward, there she was, nefie.. his mother, this now brought him some sort of joy... before it struck like lightning... RAGE.. uncontrollable, despite everything.. despite him considering her dead to him long ago, something sparked an almost righteous fury within the dark sider, THAT WAS HIS MOTHER, HIS FAMILY! He tapped deep into the dark side of the force, deeper than he ever had, as electricity surged through and out of his hands in a cone of wrath in the form of lightning, uncaring of his ally that was nearby, his only concern was killing this creature.

 

[Anai Skhess]

After gathering her clues, The Kaleesh sith quietly stared ahead as they moved, noticing the corpses and quickly laying her eyes on the monster that was ahead of them. Anai simply stared at his other two companions as they readied themselves, one all too ready to jump at it while the other held some degree of contempt...Yet decided to jump in as well. It was, of course, the right choice in her head...But neither of them did it for the right reason.

Even while posing as a normal sith, Anai thought as an inquisitor...Her first thought was not about if they should kill the beast or not, no, she thought "How much do these sith know?". After all, this group WAS the one sent to find out about the attack on the sith, so seeing another group was...extremely suspicious. And, as a sith should know, it was never wise to trust another sith. The chances of them being either traitors or somehow connected to the attack were not low, not low at all. So...they had to deal with the abomination, make sure the sith lived despite their weakness and failure...But all for the sake of questioning them afterwards, not for vain glory, not to thoughtless battle, and not for foolish ideas about what a sith could do. Under any other circumstances, letting them day would've been the play, but not this time.

This was not the first time Anai had encountered abominations, she had to fight many of them a long time ago, during an expedition she had made under Darth Draugr's orders. There, she had learned that there was a chance abominations were either immune to physical attacks or could only be vulnerable to them while being subjected to force attacks. So, while the other two sith charged head-on, Anai circled around, giving herself a line of sight in order to call upon the force and cast lightning on the hound, tendrils of blue filled with nothing but malice lashing at it without the other two sith getting in the way.of course, attacking this way also meant that, should this not work, she would not be the one to be attacked by the beast first. She hoped, however, that the sith master would follow suit and do the same, if there was one fit to attack the abomination in such a manner, it would be him.

 

[Zorya]

In the unfathomable darkness, Zorya stood resolute, a solitary figure bathed in the faintest ethereal light that softly pulsed with its own life-force. O'bog fluttered around, his usual verbose tirades muted, succumbing to the pressing silence that held the vast space captive. Her ebony skin, mirrored in the obsidian stones of the cavern, was an opaque canvas for the prismatic dance of luminescence reflecting off the tiny creature. She felt the chilliness of the cavern reach her bones, a bittersweet reminder of the material reality she was so detached from. It was a solitude she'd sought, yet bore the weight of isolation.

Her reflection stared back, a spectral doppelgänger speaking in her voice. Zorya held a contemplative gaze, her eyes reflecting ancient wisdom, yet their depth hid a turbulence of questions unanswered. Through O'bog, her voice shattered the silence, a sharp contrast to the solitude that the cavern forced upon her.

"An' what's yer purpose, mirrin' me and jabberin' me own words back, eh? Speakin' riddles 'n obscurities? What Zorya seeks is knowledge, an' the threads that tie this universe t'gether. We be here for power, plain an' simple. Now, ye spectral skulker, why not spill yer own purpose instead of echoin' me words?" The petite Ximpi shot back, his words resounding off the cavern walls, intertwining with the odd symphony of their echoed heartbeat.

Zorya’s senses amplified. The silence of the cavern hummed in her ears, the smell of damp stone invaded her nostrils. Her eyes scanned her ethereal counterpart, looking for a semblance of difference, while her fingers traced the air around her. Every sense strained, alert and waiting, attuned to the coming answers or perhaps another trial. In this world of shadows and echoes, Zorya's determination held steadfast, bolstered by the unyielding pursuit for answers.

 

[Trael Osso]

Following the rest of the group Trael also noticed the beast. He simply watched amused at the two charging in headfirst. Half of him simply wanted to see if either would even survive a counter attack. The other was more concerned about the other who seemed to slink around.

The master seemed to be taking in the sights as well. Trael watched the amount of force abilities being thrown at the beast and fellow sith alike. He chose instead to resort to his lightsabers pulling both of them off his belt and igniting them. He takes a defensive stance preparing for the beast to lunge at him.

 

[The Storyteller]

For a split moment, the hound looked almost startled by the appearance of foreign intruders to the inner sanctum. They smelt different. Their presence within the Force was foreign. They weren’t supposed to be here, and it sent pulses of anger and confusion through the abomination in equal measures, manifesting in the screeching roar it bellowed at once.

But it was only a split moment.

Just as quickly as the Hound fixated onto the new group of Sith, it sprung into action. It’s maw snapped open - revealing the spiked tongue hidden within. It lashed outward within the blink of eye - the flash of ivory teeth briefly darting through the air - before it was buried deep into the neck of Master Ikharos. The Pureblood Master didn’t even have time to scream - the razor blade piercing his jugular and reducing his voice to mere gurgles of blood. The Force flowed powerfully from the hound, as it drew every bit of energy from the Sith Master - a twisted and horrific version of Life Drain that each of them were witness to. By the end, the once powerful Pureblood was merely a shrunken husk of his former state. And the Hound was only stronger for it.

Of course, the preemptive attack by the Hound only left it exposed to the attacks from several other Sith. The trio of blaster shots sound purchase into its side, burning holes into its flesh and eliciting screeches of agony. In response, the hound immediately sent its tongue lashing towards J’aver, attempting to send the Sith Champion hurtling backwards - and perhaps further into the path of Cremek and his dillusional lightning.

The electrical assault of Anai, however, cascaded across its body - causing the Hound to convulse in agony. It thrashed and roared, it’s claws digging into the ground beneath its feet. It’s gaze fell upon Anai, and that brief eye contact was succeeded by a mental assault that would immediately slam into her mind - a shard of raw agony that attempted to rip through her consciousness. Like an ice pick taken to a china cabinet, the Hound attempt to shatter and destroy anything in its path, aiming to leave the Kaleesh a mere shell of herself if not defended against.

Witness to all of this was the saber-wielding individual, previously backed into the corner. The Rattataki women allowed her gaze to flick between all of them, the panic briefly coloring her expression melting away slightly. She didn’t know who the new arrivals were. But they were an opportunity. A gift from the Force that she wouldn’t squander.

Without missing a beat, the Rattataki Sith reached out with the Force - coiling her grasp around Tael. As the man had done nothing thus far, she attempted to pick the man up and physically throw him towards the Hound with the Force - uncaring of what kind of damage he fell into the crosshairs of. He was the last person who wasn't preoccupied. And now that he was, she turned and began to run back into the hallway leading into the opposite direction.

Spoiler: Zorya POV

Unsurprisingly, the reflection didn’t answer the question posed by O’bog - opting to merely stare back at the iconic duo. With slow steps, the illusion circled Zorya, moving just at the edge of the light that kept them both illuminated in the all-consuming void. Instead, it was the statement made by proxy that captured It’s attention. A desire for power.

“I am a guide,” It said simply - voice echoing from every direction. “Forever bound to this place - to impart the knowledge of this place, to any truly worthy of the legacy of the Sith.” The illusion briefly stepped around to the corner of Zorya’s vision, before vanishing from sight.

Only seconds passed before the illusion reappeared a few steps ahead, back towards the source of light in the distance. Guiding her towards it.

“Is that what you are? What you believe yourself to be?” It asked with almost a hint of amusement. “Do you understand the price of what you seek, child?” As it spoke, the illusion extended a free hand - the handle-end of a ritual dagger pointed out to the Sith Master. Despite the incorporeal nature of the illusion, somehow, Zorya would recognize the dagger to be quite real as it was offered to her.

If the Yacombe accepted the dagger and stepped further towards the light, she would find herself at the entrance of a sealed, stone door. Runes lined the front of it, though they were foreign and unreadable to Zorya. Little did she know, another in her group would’ve recognized their meaning at once. @Versok

The illusion said nothing - merely watching for what Zorya opted to do. Any conventional attempt to open the door would be met with unflinching resistance, no matter the strength she attempted to muster.

@Javier esschoolbus @Versok @Aberforth @Apollyon @theaveragejedishadow

Please keep in mind, TIME OUTS APPLY. Tael is taking autohit damage due to a failure to meet the 48hr deadline.